Milwaukee Bucks Begin NBA Season With a Dominant Win Over the Washington Wizards

The NBA season is officially back, and if the Milwaukee Bucks’ home opener is any indication, we’re in for one heck of a ride. Giannis Antetokounmpo, looking every bit the Greek god of basketball, decided to start his season on an absolute tear, dropping a monstrous 37 points and yanking down 14 rebounds. The Bucks grabbed the lead early and never looked back, securing a solid 133-120 victory over the Washington Wizards. It was a wire-to-wire win that had the Fiserv Forum buzzing from the jump.

A Hero’s Welcome and a Frightening Fall

The night wasn’t just about Giannis doing Giannis things. It was also a homecoming for Khris Middleton, a beloved figure in Milwaukee and a cornerstone of that 2021 championship team. Now rocking a Wizards jersey after last season’s trade, Middleton was met with a thunderous standing ovation from the Bucks faithful. The team even rolled a heartfelt video tribute during the first timeout, and you could feel the mutual respect in the building. Middleton showed he’s still got it, putting up 23 points for Washington.

But the good vibes took a hit late in the first quarter. New Bucks Guard Kevin Porter Jr., who had just chipped in 10 points, went down with what looked like a nasty ankle sprain. He was backpedaling on defense, appeared to trip over teammate Bobby Portis’s foot, and immediately hit the deck in pain. He had to be helped to the locker room, putting a damper on an otherwise explosive start for Milwaukee. You just hate to see that, especially so early in the season.

Raining Threes and Answering Runs

Remember last season when the Bucks were sharpshooters but a little shy about letting it fly? Well, it looks like Doc Rivers spent the entire training camp chanting “shoot more threes!” at his squad. They clearly listened. The Bucks came out firing from downtown, sinking 5 of their first 6 three-point attempts and finishing the game with an impressive 18-for-44 from beyond the arc.

Milwaukee built a commanding 22-point lead, but the Wizards, led by Middleton, weren’t going down without a fight. They unleashed a 12-0 run to start the third quarter, slicing the lead down to just seven. It felt like one of those moments where the momentum could swing for good. But every time Washington got close, Milwaukee had an answer. And that answer, more often than not, was Giannis. In the fourth quarter, he single-handedly went on a 10-point scoring spree to squash any hopes of a Wizards comeback. It was a classic “give me the ball and get out of the way” moment from the two-time MVP.

The Bucks got solid contributions all around. Gary Trent Jr. added 17 points, and Myles Turner looked right at home in his debut, notching 11 points, 8 boards, and 5 assists. It was a complete team effort to start the season 1-0.